This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Transmission failed without warning while driving. When coming to a stop and trying to proceed vehicle would not go faster than 15 mph and in first gear. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated there was nothing they could do. Please add VIN.
Transmission failed. Rebuilt transmission installed. Rebuilt transmission already showing signs of failure similar to old one. There must be a manufacturing defect with these transmissions - they should last longer than this.
When slowing down to stop or turn--there is a downshift/shudder--if I am driving in overdrive. Out of overdrive, it does not downshift. Ref. 99-18-4 I have taken it in several times and all they do is clean the fuel injectors. (tiresize: P215/70R15)
Vehicle would slip in and out of gear while at a light or stop sign (while in drive gear). Required high rpms to engage causing the vehicle to lurch forward. Transmission replaced at owner's cost.
This vehicle has had two engines, transmission work and a lot of smaller problems. Right now it is having the drivers seat track and adjusters replaced. Would like to be part of a class action suit. The Windstar may be safe, but it isn't reliable.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
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Transmission failure at 68000+/- miles. No previous problems. Traveling on interstate at 70 mph, heard loud noise, got off at next exit. Sounded like engine dropped out and was dragging on ground, van was jumping. Made it to a parking lot at which point it would not engage in drive or reverse. Dealer didn't know what caused transmission failure, questioned dealer if this is common, "not common, but can't say it doesn't happen" reapir would be $3000. Called 3 transmission shops for pricing, when told it was a Windstar all new what the problem was, down to the noise it made! repairs at independant shops ran $1500. Ford is no help, claims there is no problem. Obviously this is a dangerous problem in the Windstar, Ford needs to get into gear and get these vehicles taken care of and compensate those who have already paid out of pocket for repairs.
Vehicle does not shift down into gear at stop, resulting in vehicle rocking backwards until gas pedal is depressed to go forward which results in car lurching forward violently. Inspected by jenkins and wynn Ford dealership on diagnostic computer. It was found to have a defective aluminum drum and piston assembly which sticks if there is not enough pressure built up for it to go forward. This was confirmed by the service manager john cornejo at jenkins-wynn on 08/27/01. At this time Ford Motor Company refuses to replace transmission as was recommended by the service staff at this location in clarksville, tn. A Ford Motor Company representative was contacted and told of the problem. She then contacted larry bryant, service manager at this location, who then proceeded to give erroneous information to the representative. The Ford motor representative then became indifferent to our situation. We requested to speak to someone of a higher authority and were told that we would be contacted back by her supervisor within 48 hours. Meanwhile Mr. Cornejo, stating that the first option of flushing out the transmission would not benefit us, as originally suggested to us by Mr. Bryant as an alternative to a rebuilt transmission, admitted that this was not a remedy for this type of defective part. We are currently awaiting Mr. Cornejo to contact us on 08/28/01 regarding this fact after he consults with Mr. Bryant. As Ford Motor Corp. Customers, we are expected to foot the bill on a defective part that will cost us $2500 to repair through no fault of our own. Defective part is made of aluminum. Ford motor only makes this replacement part in steel now due to the realization that aluminum will fail at some point.
We were on vacation in Pennsylvania after a trip to boston and had pulled into a parking area when we put the car in reverse to straighten out in the parking space and nothing happened. The car was towed to a Ford garage where we were told the transmission needed replacing. This took 5 days, when we left pa and drove home to Iowa. The miles on this Windstar are highway miles and not city driving.
This van is 3 years old. Corrosion most likely caused the problem with strut rods & sway bar links. Obviously this manufacturer was not concerned with quality B/C of all these problems. The Ford company will not reimburse me (my van is no longer covered by factory warranty) unless they issue a recall on any particular problem. I just don't understand why I would have all these problems with a vehicle that was less than 2 yrs old when the problems started. Maybe you can't help me, but I wanted to lodge a complaint.
While traveling in warm weather, making sudden stops/parking and while in stop and go traffic, vehicle would stall without any indication. Please provide further informaiton. Air bag light illuminated due to faulty module, the drivers side door adjar switch was sticking causing the door adjar light to illuminate, outer tie rod failed causing noise in the front end, vehicle experiences loss of power/slipping due to faulty transmission, check engine light illuminated and vehicle stalled, dealer replaced sensor, speedometer was off. Nlm
Was driving vehicle when transmission died in middle of traffic with 18,000 miles. Second time it died with 95,600 miles. Vehicle did not feel right when shifting. Took to mechanic, and informed consumer that transmission had contaminated fluid that was causing it to die/stall out. Contaminated fluid needed to be replaced.
Transmission was rebuilt/remanufactured. Attending service technician indicates that, although it may have come from factory in this condition, it looks like someone considered putting in a transmission cooler, started drilling a hole for a plug, and changed their mind without completing the job. This weak spot failed, spewing transmission fluid, and causing transmission failure. We believe this is a clear-cut instance of defective materials/workmanship.
While driving at 40 mph car shifted out of gear and the transmission would not reingage beyond 1st. Limped home on highway with flashers. Dealer declared 'internal problem' and $2,400 transmission replaced w/O any factory reimbursement. Customer service rep. At Ford contacted and I was told there was nothing they could do about this specific problem with Windstar transmissions (other than collect my money) and there were no recalls or tsbs on the transmission. The dealer reported that the transmission fluid looked ok so this was not traced to the failure. The transmission was returned for 'core' credit intact: No reason for the failure was determined.
We have been reporting transmission problems to the dealers, transmission slamming into gear, . thel tell me nothing is wrong. We now have a complete transmission failure.
While traveling 30 to 40 mph transmission started slipping and smoke started coming from underneath hood of vehicle. Consumer pulled off to side of road and turned vehicle off. Consumer examined vehicle and found that there was fluid leaking from engine, pool of fluid was approximately 2 feet in diameter on the ground. Dealership examined vehicle and could not determine that there was a problem with vehicle. Informed consumer that no fluids leaked from vehicle. Also, this vehicle was not affected by any recalls. Dealer finally replaced transmission with a refurbished one after a field engineer stating it was faulty.
On the 20th of may I was driving the van when it felt like it hesitated(slipped) and then it proceeded to drive normally. We went half a mile then stopped the van and parked. On returning to the van and starting it, it ran very rough(loud) and would not go past 30mph on our way home. We proceeded to take it to the dealership in the next week and found out the transmission had gone out at only 35000 miles. Our warranty had expired on 4/16/01. Barely a month out of warranty and a powertrain item had failed on us. We know two other family members that have owned Windstar vans that the transmission has gone out with low mileage. The dealership has offered to repair it for $495. This will inlcude an extended warranty on the powertrain for 75,000 miles. We feel with such low mileage, a recently expired warranty and knowing other people in our family that have dealt with the same thing, that Ford should stand behind there automobile and repair this free of charge. I am sure this is a more common problem than Ford wants to admit.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Omaha, NE, USA